Forgot Windows 10 Password: How to Reset it?

We live in a world where the information that our devices store is usually worth more than the devices themselves. That is why it is very important to protect it with the reliable authentication methods. Moving from less safe traditional passwords, manufacturers developed biometric authentication. You can use your fingerprint, face or retina to unlock your device without the need to remember PINs or complicated passwords. Even though fingerprint sensors exist in modern devices for more than five years, they are still not so popular among PCs. That is why users still must protect their computers with PINs or ID passwords. A big disadvantage of such method is the fact that you can easily forget your Windows 10 password and find yourself locked out of the device. Luckily, there are a couple methods which allow you to reset Windows 10 password quite easily.

Windows 10 Password Reset

If you are using a PIN code to unlock your PC, recovering forgotten Windows 10 password is a simple task. Click I forgot my PIN link on the lock screen.

After that Windows will prompt you to enter your Microsoft Account password and then you will be able to set up a new PIN and use it to log in to your PC. That’s it.

If you are using Microsoft Account Password instead of a PIN, resetting Windows 10 password also won’t be a big headache. Click I forgot my password and after that Windows will open a password recovery screen. Simply follow instructions on your screen.

Both methods above work only if you set up PC using Microsoft Account. If you use a local account, resetting Windows 10 password is more challenging, but it’s still possible.

Password Reset Disk Windows 10

Microsoft recommends it as an official and most convenient way to reset forgotten local Windows 10 password. The only thing is that you should create a Windows 10 password reset disk before you use it. In other words, this method won’t work in case you are locked out of the system without the previously created disk, so be sure to create it beforehand.

On the next screen, Windows will ask you to enter a new password and a password hint;

Click Next and after that Windows will allow you to log in using the new password.

There is another simple way to recover Windows 10 lock screen password. You have probably noticed on one of the screenshots above that Windows asks to answer some questions before you open Windows password reset Wizard. When you set up a local account on your PC, Windows will ask you to provide answers for 3 security questions. Answering these questions allows you to reset password even without a password reset disk. The only caveat is that you must set up these questions beforehand and, of course, remember them. In case you don’t, then password reset disk, or the last method is your only hope.

How to Reset Windows 10 Password Without Third-party Tools?

This method is more complicated and time-consuming, but it will work if you can’t restore password using any methods above. Please notice, that you will need a Windows Boot Drive (USB-drive or DVD) with the same architecture. You can create one using any other PC.